Surname Mac Donnell - Meaning and Origin
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Mac Donnell: What does the surname Mac Donnell mean?
The last name Mac Donnell is of Irish origin and it means "son of Donnell." The name Donnell itself is derived from the Gaelic name Domhnall, which is composed of the old Celtic elements "dubro" and "val" meaning "world" and "might" or "rule", respectively. Therefore, the surname can be translated to mean "son of the world ruler" or "son of the mighty ruler." Over the centuries, the name has been spelled in various ways including McDonnell, MacDonald and many others, heavily influenced by the historical and political environment of the times. The surname is common in areas of Scotland and Ireland, indicating a descendent’s affiliation to the ancient and powerful Scottish Clan Donald.
Order DNA origin analysisMac Donnell: Where does the name Mac Donnell come from?
The surname Mac Donnell is of Scottish origin and comes from the Gaelic "Mac Domhnaill" which means "son of Donald". This surname traces back to the Scottish Highlands, specifically clans located in Argyll and the Isles. In the twelfth century, some members of the clan settled in Ireland, giving rise to the Irish branch of the Mac Donnells, especially prevalent in County Antrim, after their territory was known as the Glynns of Antrim.
Today, the surname Mac Donnell (also commonly spelled as Macdonald, MacDonald, McDonnell, or McDonald) is widely distributed and relatively common in places where the Scottish and Irish diaspora are significant. This includes Scotland, Ireland, the United States, Canada, and Australia. The largest concentration of people with this surname is still found in Scotland and Ireland, with a particular prevalence in and around the original clan territories in the Highlands and Antrim. Meanwhile, its variations like McDonald are more common in countries like the United States and Australia.
Variations of the surname Mac Donnell
The surname Mac Donnell originates from the Gaelic name "Mac Domhnaill," which means "son of Domhnall" or "son of the ruler of the world". Various spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin include MacDonnell, McDonnell, Macdonnell, McDonald, MacDonald, Macdonald, and Mcdonald.
Mac Donnell is often identified with Clan Donald of Scotland, with similar roots in Irish surnames such as Ó Dónaill, often anglicized as O’Donnell.
It's important to note that the prefix "Mac" was often dropped or modified to "Mc" particularly among emigrants to the United States, Canada, and Australia, leading to further variations like Donnell, Donnellan, and even Daniel in some cases.
Spelling of the surname has been subject to regional variations and the influence of local dialects. Hence, in different regions of Scotland and Ireland, the exact spelling might differ even within the same family - variations such as Mcdonnell, Mcdonell or Mcdanel are seen.
The same surname may also appear as 'MacConnell' in some documents, especially older ones. Not to forget, the use of capitalization with 'Mac' and 'Mc' prefixes also yields different spellings like 'Macdonnell' or 'Mcdonnell'.
Famous people with the name Mac Donnell
- Christopher Macdonnell: British actor known for narration and voice-over roles in video games such as "Total War: Rome II".
- Lauren McDonnell: An accomplished film and theater actress known for her roles in "Mawwiage", "Saints Rest", and "Saving for the Day".
- Tom Macdonnell: A famous cricketer who played domestically in New Zealand.
- Gordon Macdonnell: Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played 23 games in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers.
- Kaycee Macdonald: Known for her appearances on "MasterChef Australia".
- Rose MacDonnell: Canadian rower who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics.
- Garry MacDonnell: Former football midfielder, had a considerable career in Ireland, mainly with Derry City.
- Charlotte MacDonnell: Countess of Kingston, wife of George King, 3rd Earl of Kingston and a member of British high society.
- Jeanie Macdonald: British actress known for her roles in "The Bells" (1918), "The Splendid Coward" (1918) and "Wisp o' the Woods" (1919).
- Lee Macdonell: British actor, known for his role in “Ride” (2018). These people are not "A-list" famous, but they have made notable contributions in their respective fields.